It will be a decision Sir Alex Ferguson may hold off on making until the very last minute, whether to start Robin van Persie against Wigan this weekend.
The Dutch striker scored a hat-trick last time out and has scored four of United's six goals this season. So the news he was taken off with a suspected injury in Holland's international friendly will not have been well received in the red corner of Manchester.
International boss Louis van Gaal was keen to downplay the fitness concerns, adding the striker was taken off as a precaution.
United will be keen to put the striker through his paces upon his return and assess whether or not there is any need to be worried.
If they were being over-cautious, the club would certainly decide to give him a rest for this weekend's fixture. They kick-off at home to Wigan, a home fixture the Red Devils have gained three points in every single time the two clubs have met in the Premier League.
Surely with Hernandez, who scored for Mexico last night, and Welbeck, who won a penalty for England, United should have enough strike power to take them past the Latics?
Perhaps, but this is the exact same attitude which ruined United's season last year. The Red Devils rested Paul Scholes when they needed not to when they visited the DW Stadium. They lost 1-0, and their league title with it.
A home loss against Blackburn last season also showed the club could not afford to rest key players, Rooney was left out for that one, while rotation was one of the key reasons they faltered in the Champions League.
So while leaving out Van Persie to rest him is an option, it is a real risk they may be wary of taking.
But what if he is only 90 per cent fit, do they throw him in? This could backfire spectacularly if the once notoriously injury-prone striker aggravates his injury.
Even if playing him is viewed as a slight risk, should United take it?
What do you think? Should United rest Van Persie this weekend, or can they not afford to?
image: © jikatu
Dan Coombs
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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.
He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.
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